Man admits murder of woman in Kirklees before trial

A Kirklees man who inflicted fatal head injuries on a woman in Almondbury has pleaded guilty to her murder at a pre-trial hearing.

Gareth Brook, 34, of Fernside Avenue will be sentenced in due course for the murder of Lisa Smith, 33, in December 2025.

The 34-year-old had appeared for a pre-trial preparation hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Monday August 17 but instead admitted Lisa's murder.

Police were called to an address on Fernside Avenue at about 12.26am on December 19 to a report Brook had seriously assaulted a woman inside.

Officers attended and found Lisa who had suffered very serious head injuries.

She was provided with emergency treatment but died in hospital from her injuries on December 21.

Brook was initially charged him with section 18 assault but later charged with murder following Lisa’s death.

Detective Inspector Tom Hilyer of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who led the investigation, said:” We welcome the guilty plea of Gareth Brook today for what was a dreadful attack in which he inflicted extremely serious head injuries on Lisa. Those injuries tragically left her with no realistic prospect of survival, and resulted in her passing away a few days later.

“We hope Lisa’s family can take some small measure of comfort from seeing him admit his guilt in court today, and we continue to support them at what remains an incredibly traumatic time.

“We now await Brook’s sentencing in due course."